Item 01: Robert Joseph Stewart diary, 25 September-9 December 1914 - Page 47

[Page 47]

16/11/14

Boxing this morning with Cpl Burns. Captain and 4th Officer went ashore in lifeboat about 9.30 A.M. this morning. A tug came alongside about 10 A.M. this morning. "The Lady Mackay" manned entirely by niggers, with an Aust Lieut in charge. She was visiting all the troopships giving & taking mail. A lot of us derived much amusement by throwing coins down on to her decks and watching the crew scrambling for them. Their zeal was remarkable. While she was alongside us about 11 A.M. a steam launch came alongside her, with a couple of English tea planters & two white women on board. The 2 Englishmen came on board to offer prices for supplies. the Q.M. Lt Whyte, who thinks he knows a bit about the language, tried to strike up a conversation